State says lowest-in-nation Nebraska jobless rate rose tenth of a point to 2.7 percent in July

Nebraska's unemployment rate inched up a tenth of a point to 2.7 percent in July, but remained the lowest rate in the nation, according to reports issued Friday.

The Nebraska Labor Department said the preliminary July rate was six-tenths of a point under the July 2014 rate of 3.3 percent.

The new Nebraska figure remained well below the preliminary national unemployment rate of 5.3 percent in July. U.S. Labor Department figures said Nebraska was trailed by North Dakota at 3 percent and Utah and Vermont at 3.6 percent.

"Once again we see a substantial increase in nonfarm employment compared to a year ago," said state Labor Commissioner John Albin. "We saw new highs in information, leisure and hospitality and other services."

Nonfarm employment rose more than 7,800 over the year to hit 998,779 in July, the state said. Private industries with the most job growth year over year were education and health services, up 4,195; leisure and hospitality, up 2,596; and other services, up 2,006.

The Omaha rate remained unchanged at 3.2 percent but was down seven-tenths of a point from July 2014. The Lincoln rate dropped a tenth of a point to 2.5 percent and was down seven-tenths of a point from the 3.2 percent a year ago. The Grand Island rate jumped to 4.9 percent from 3.1 percent in June but was seven-tenths of a point under the July 2014 rate of 5.6 percent.

The unemployment rates for Grand Island, Lincoln and Omaha have not been seasonally adjusted, so they cannot be directly compared with the state unemployment rate.

Here are preliminary area labor market unemployment rates for July, followed by revised figures from June:

— Beatrice: 3.5, 3.6

— Columbus: 2.7, 2.9

— Fremont: 3.3, 3.3

— Hastings: 3.2, 3.1

— Kearney: 2.5, 2.5

— Lexington: 3.0, 2.9

— Norfolk: 2.7, 2.8

— North Platte: 2.8, 2.8

— Red Willow: 3.0, 3.0

— Scottsbluff: 3.3, 3.5

___

Online:

Nebraska Department of Labor: http://www.dol.nebraska.gov